What's Draining Your Android Battery

While modern Android batteries are increasingly high capacity, it can sometimes feel like your Android battery is draining faster than usual. This is especially true with older devices.

Here's a look at some of the reasons why your phone battery may be dying so fast and what to do to rectify it. 

Why Is My Phone Battery Dying So Fast?

There are a few key reasons why your phone's battery might be running out so quickly. Here's a look at the main reasons behind such issues.

• Your phone battery is aging. If your phone battery used to be pretty reliable but suddenly runs out of charge, it may be simply getting old. Older phone batteries are more likely to run out of battery faster than new ones. 
• You're using it a lot. If your phone usage is higher than usual, it'll feel like your battery is dying much faster. That doesn't mean there's an issue with the battery. It just means you're using it frequently. 
• Your phone is getting too hot. Heat is the enemy of all batteries. If your phone is overheating due to hot weather or improper storage, your phone's battery will drain faster.
• Certain apps are draining the battery faster. Some apps can use up the battery more quickly than others. It's worth checking which apps are expending power the most (think gaming). 

How to Check What Apps Are Draining Your Battery Fastest

It's possible to check which apps on your Android phone are using up the battery the most. It can be useful guidance, especially if those apps are apps you don't use very often. Here's how to see which apps are draining your battery. 

1. Tap Settings.

2. Tap Battery.

3. Tap Phone Battery Usage.

   On some phones, such as Android 11 on Pixel, you'll find the Battery usage option via the three-dot menu at the top right of the Battery page.

4. The apps are organized in order of which apps use the most power. Tap each app to find out even more.

How to Improve Android Battery Life

There are multiple ways to improve your Android phone's battery life. We've looked at the best nine ways to extend your Android's battery life in-depth, as well as how to improve your cell phone battery life in general. Here's an overview of the main ways to improve your battery life.

• Switch on Battery Saver Mode. Turn on Battery Saver Mode, and your phone automatically lowers performance and switches off services such as GPS to reduce the battery drain.
• Turn off unneeded services. If you prefer to do things manually, switch off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location services, and other unnecessary services to extend your battery life.
• Dim your screen. Turning down the screen brightness can extend battery life significantly without impacting performance.
• Use your phone as little as possible. Using it less often means the battery will last longer, although it may not be convenient.
• Calibrate your Android's battery. Calibrating your Android battery can be helpful, particularly with older Android devices with fewer battery-saving options available.